tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851610349009799138.post5782241425687571516..comments2019-02-20T23:08:32.166-08:00Comments on New Wentzvillian -- St. Charles Countian Wentzville Missouri: Wentzville Voters to Decide Conflict of Interest or Infringed Rights? New Wentzvillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03112898113998139408noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851610349009799138.post-2768368610865882282016-04-04T07:35:51.286-07:002016-04-04T07:35:51.286-07:00The Real Cost of Elected Official Health Coverage
...The Real Cost of Elected Official Health Coverage<br /><br />Health insurance coverage for elected officials will cost far more than just the monthly premiums paid by the city. In fact, the monthly cost is a fraction of total insurance expenses to taxpayers. For elected aldermen, combined with approved pay increases, this could represent a total compensation to more than $28,000 a year, a 560 percent over the $5,000 a year salary aldermen are now receiving.<br /><br />Here is how that would work:<br /><br />The city of Wentzville maintains a self-funded health insurance plan. What that means is the city purchases a particular plan from a health insurance provider that provides access to that company’s provider network. In addition to underwriting the majority of monthly premiums for employees, the taxpayers foot the bill for medical costs. This keeps insurance rates lower than if the city just purchased coverage from a carrier.<br /><br />In simple terms, that means that each time an employee goes to a doctor’s appointment, gets an X-ray, is hospitalized, or any other medical issue, taxpayers foot about 90 percent of the bill, up to a limit of $75,000 per person each year. That is when a separate insurance policy kicks in to make medical payments.<br /><br />In its meeting of July 22, 2015, the city was informed by its consultant that total dollars spent on health care were projected to be approximately $2.4 million during 2016, with $1.8 million paid out in medical claims. That works out to an average of about $9,300 per participant. Those projections did not include the participation of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.<br /><br />Just based on the average of a single participant, that would bring aldermen total compensation to potentially reach nearly $28,000 a year, up from about $5,000 now – an increase of nearly 560 percent per year for aldermen and the mayor, if they participated in the health insurance program, and that does not include covered family members. That’s $10,000 more a year than a $9-an-hour retail employee - the starting rate for Wal Mart employees - would receive for working a 40-hour week in Wentzville.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851610349009799138.post-82507504050559127952016-03-30T18:47:35.739-07:002016-03-30T18:47:35.739-07:00I agree with there being conflicts of interest wit...I agree with there being conflicts of interest within the school board as well. After dealing with how some of them approached an issue I had with my special needs daughter, I am really hoping to see some shuffling after the election. Simpson and Bates are supported by our kids&#39; teachers; I&#39;ve heard great things about Jackson Thompson too.Treading Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07527311953110263138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851610349009799138.post-49693278587672313872016-03-30T18:47:29.483-07:002016-03-30T18:47:29.483-07:00I agree with there being conflicts of interest wit...I agree with there being conflicts of interest within the school board as well. After dealing with how some of them approached an issue I had with my special needs daughter, I am really hoping to see some shuffling after the election. Simpson and Bates are supported by our kids&#39; teachers; I&#39;ve heard great things about Jackson Thompson too.Treading Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07527311953110263138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851610349009799138.post-18407575436899216432016-03-30T14:28:54.044-07:002016-03-30T14:28:54.044-07:00You forgot to mention Spencer Sued the Francis How...You forgot to mention Spencer Sued the Francis Howell School Board.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851610349009799138.post-30044995452657454062016-03-30T13:05:28.983-07:002016-03-30T13:05:28.983-07:00Of course this is a conflict of interest, even if ...Of course this is a conflict of interest, even if he has experience or not (that’s like saying that one of the candidates for mayor has a master’s degree in business – whoopity doo, if he’s not going to do what’s best for Wentzville or its’ citizens).<br /><br />Mr. Tucker may say that he will recuse himself from votes, etc., but who’s to say that “a little birdy” won’t drop a hint to his coworkers, etc. in Lincoln County? Some under-bidding perhaps, or a better deal to get a business to reconsider working with Wentzville. After all, Lincoln County is paying Mr. Tucker’s bills, not what he will make as alderman. Also, I think one of his big mistakes was announcing that right off the bat, he is going to sue Wentzville if elected. <br /><br />Now on the other hand, Mr. Tucker’s opponent, incumbent Michael Rhoades, has more integrity and honesty in his pinky than most people I know – what you see is what you get with him; anyone with half a brain and eyes cannot impugn that fact. <br /><br />Now, I realize that there are some people that no matter how much factual information you put out there, they’re going to cry foul. If the candidates actually quit slinging their lies and false accusations at those incumbents running, and start listing out their candidate’s accomplishments (i.e. military background, volunteering background, successful business ownership, interacting with residents (after the election!), following thru on citizen’s needs and requests, etc.), the good people of Wentzville might actual see both sides — as it is, currently only the incumbents are keeping their campaigns positive and only presenting the facts and accomplishments.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851610349009799138.post-66829222357367363842016-03-30T09:54:13.303-07:002016-03-30T09:54:13.303-07:00Here&#39;s the problem I have personally...u canno...Here&#39;s the problem I have personally...u cannot be a city employee and live in the county in St. Louis as an example. I would never vote for someone that not only doesnt truly know our city but especially if they actually work in another county. How would they be fully vested in what our city needs in order to continue growth and for the well being of all of us who live here? It&#39;s just wrong. Then to top it off...he says he will sue if he were elected and DID NOT quit his Lincoln County job and not be allowed on the board? He already sounds like someone, in my opinion, that wouldn&#39;t care much about Wentzville.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13721980450088988627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851610349009799138.post-68654241725634107232016-03-30T09:53:55.277-07:002016-03-30T09:53:55.277-07:00Here&#39;s the problem I have personally...u canno...Here&#39;s the problem I have personally...u cannot be a city employee and live in the county in St. Louis as an example. I would never vote for someone that not only doesnt truly know our city but especially if they actually work in another county. How would they be fully vested in what our city needs in order to continue growth and for the well being of all of us who live here? It&#39;s just wrong. Then to top it off...he says he will sue if he were elected and DID NOT quit his Lincoln County job and not be allowed on the board? He already sounds like someone, in my opinion, that wouldn&#39;t care much about Wentzville.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13721980450088988627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851610349009799138.post-13372073201590511482016-03-30T07:37:15.186-07:002016-03-30T07:37:15.186-07:00Conflicts of interest abound on the school board, ...Conflicts of interest abound on the school board, too. You should write about that.Troyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10326395644678124284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851610349009799138.post-8534615731410507152016-03-30T07:24:13.844-07:002016-03-30T07:24:13.844-07:00I am so happy to live in O&#39;Fallon....Our city ...I am so happy to live in O&#39;Fallon....Our city used to have many controversial issues and elected officials....For the most part that is over and the concentration is focused on wise growth of our city. Jim Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00685971783290862099noreply@blogger.com